Rangers manager Philippe Clement is yet to use Brazilian striker Danilo this season.
The ex-Feyenoord hitman spent the second half of last season out of the team with a knee injury and made a return to the squad in pre-season.
But despite being routinely named on the bench, Rangers fans are yet to see Danilo return to competitive action and it’s raising a few eyebrows.
Not least because with Rangers chasing goals against Dynamo Kiev in Champions League qualification, the Ibrox manager failed to call on the striker.
Now, Philippe Clement has had to respond to questions surrounding a pre-match clip which appeared to show the unused substituted limping his way to the bench.
Clement offers Danilo explanation
Heading into the match with Dynamo Kiev, Rangers uploaded a clip of Brazilian forward Danilo making his way to the Hampden pitch.
But the video was quickly deleted by Rangers when the striker’s distinctive limp begun to catch the attention of supporters.
Scratching their heads as to why Danilo was on the bench when it looks like he could barely walk, such clips don’t help when you’ve just been knocked out the Champions League.
You can watch it below:
Philippe Clement was then asked about the situation with Danilo come the final whistle in the painful Champions League defeat.
Initially confused about the line of questioning, Clement eventually offered some clarity over the situation.
“Danilo always had that kind of walk,” said Clement. “Look at the moment when he came into the club here.
“I’ve been watching him a long time. I wanted to get him to Brugge when he was in Ajax when he was not playing there and he had that walk also at that moment.
“So no one needs to worry about that. There is nothing going on with him.
“And today I wanted to put him in, that was the idea, but then the circumstances of the game where not there.
“But people will see him the next couple of weeks, they don’t need to worry about that.
“It’s just about seven months out that you need time to gain match fitness and then the right moments to get these minutes.
“It depends also from the scenarios of the game in that situation.”
A clip of the striker’s gait from back in November 2023 also appears to back up Clement’s assertion.
Lack of options costs Rangers dearly
Rangers paid a reported £6m to sign Danilo from Feyenoord last season and have yet to see the best of the striker.
The club saw glimpses of the hitman before a devastating knee injury sustained v Hearts which saw the Gers’ frontline badly impacted heading into the final furlong of the season.
It’s been a long road back for the forward and it’s clear Rangers still have some work to do before Danilo will return from the bench in competitive action let alone the starting XI.
The problem is Rangers don’t have such time and the injury has once again already cost the club big this season.
Clement was clear that Rangers needed additional quality to reach the Champions League this summer but the club have been unable to call on any striker bar Cyriel Dessers.
All this hot air is well and good but until Rangers fans see Danilo on the park and having a tangible impact in terms of minutes, that’s all it will ever be.
